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A Wisconsin nuclear engineering student with a knack for sharing her opinion on “hot-button political issues” has been crowned Miss America 2023.
Grace Stanke, 20, won the coveted title in the beauty pageant Thursday at Mohegan Sun Stadium in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Hailing from Wausau, Wisconsin, she wowed the judges with her beauty and intelligence, making it clear that while she loves to compete in pageants, her number one passion is science.
The beauty queen is currently studying nuclear engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and often expresses her love for the subject on her social media accounts.
A Wisconsin nuclear engineering student with a knack for sharing her opinion on “hot-button political issues” has been crowned Miss America 2023
Grace Stanke, 20, won the coveted title in the beauty pageant Thursday at Mohegan Sun Stadium in Uncasville, Connecticut.
Hailing from Wausau, Wisconsin, she wowed the judges with her beauty and intelligence, making it clear that while she loves to compete in pageants, her number one passion is science.
‘I am very proud to be a woman in nuclear engineering. It is not easy, nor is it a simple path to follow, but it is so worth it,” she wrote on Instagram in June.
The beauty queen is currently studying nuclear engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and often expresses her love for the subject on her social media accounts.
‘I find joy in the little things, and when I understand something so small that makes something as big as a nuclear power plant work, it makes me excited to be alive!
‘To the young woman, the little girl, the high school student who wants to be an engineer but is struggling for whatever reason: remember that YOU are a pioneer in this field.
‘Each woman paves the way a little more for the next. I am so excited to work alongside each and every one of you.’
When asked by a follower what she wants her ‘legacy’ to be in July, the self-described ‘nuclear nerd’ said: ‘The best answer I have is a nuclear analogy. I want to be the neutron that is fired at uranium to start the decay process in a power plant.
‘I want to be the person who inspires the next three people to keep going and make powerful decisions. I want to be the person who is causing that change in people and affecting generations to come.’
‘I am very proud to be a woman in nuclear engineering. It’s not easy, nor is it an easy path to follow, but it’s so worth it,’ she wrote on Instagram in June.
She added: “To the young woman, to the little girl, to the high school student who wants to be an engineer but is struggling for whatever reason: remember that YOU are a pioneer in this field.”
When asked by the judges what she would use the Miss America platform for, she said she was “thrilled” to have the opportunity to use her voice for an even larger audience.
In addition, the activist often talks about climate change and how it affects the environment.
‘I’m capable of [answer questions] and say, ‘This is not the point of view of the organization, this is my personal point of view,’ especially when it comes to hot political issues,’ he said.
When asked by the judges what she would use the Miss America platform for, she said she was “thrilled” to have the opportunity to use her voice for an even larger audience.
“As Miss America, I know that I am representing this organization, but I can [answer questions] and say, “This is not the point of view of the organization, this is my personal point of view as Grace Stanke.” especially when it comes to things like nuclear power and so many other hot political issues,” he said.
Grace, who is also an avid violinist, further impressed the audience with a stunning rendition of Aaron Sinclair and Antonio Vivaldi’s song Storm during the competition.
hollywood life reported that she began playing the instrument at the age of eight and that it helped her find her love of pageants.
She previously admitted that she became so anxious while performing that she began to shake, realizing that in order to overcome her fears she would have to do more on stage, which led to her entry into the Miss Wisconsin Outstanding Teen competition.
Grace, who is also an avid violinist, further impressed the audience with a stunning rendition of Aaron Sinclair and Antonio Vivaldi’s song Storm during the competition.
Also, according to her Instagram account, Grace loves water skiing, hiking, and traveling.
She previously served as Miss Madison for two years before taking the Miss Wisconsin title earlier this year.
Winning Miss America made her the third woman from the state to take the crown.
‘[Competing] it helped me feel comfortable in my own skin,’ she told The Northwestern, reflecting on her journey.
Also, according to her Instagram account, Grace loves water skiing, hiking, and traveling.
She previously served as Miss Madison for two years before taking the Miss Wisconsin title earlier this year, and winning Miss America made her the third woman from the state to take the crown.
The beauty pageant, which began in the 1920s and has run for 95 years, saw 51 different women go head-to-head to see who would be crowned the winner.
Miss New York Taryn Delanie Smith was chosen as the runner-up, while Miss Texas Averie Bishop placed third.